Association of the antagonism of von Willebrand factor but not fibrinogen by platelet alphaIIbbeta3 antagonists with prolongation of bleeding time

Disseminated intravascular coagulation in a dog naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi from Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

BACKGROUND

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired disorder characterized by the activation of intravascular coagulation and excessive fibrin formation. It always occurs in association with other clinical conditions, including parasitic diseases. DIC has been described as a unusual complication in human and canine visceral leishmaniasis.

CASE PRESENTATION

DIC was found in a seven-year-old male mongrel dog naturally infected by Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. Haemostasis parameters demonstrated changes in primary and secondary haemostasis and fibrinolysis.

CONCLUSION

DIC is a unusual condition described in canine visceral leishmaniasis and it seems to be associated with several immunological and pathological mechanisms involved in the disease.

Roles of integrins in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Integrins, serving as transmembrane proteins, play major roles in cell-extracellular matrix adhesions, and they can introduce extracellular signals into the cells, alter cellular morphology and influence cell motility as well as contribute to tumor invasion and metastasis. One of the major causes of low resection rates and extremely poor survival rates is its extraordinary local tumor progression and early systemic dissemination. Being a kind of adhesion molecules associating cells with extracellular matrix, integrins play a variety of roles in the process of invasion and metastasis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.